RUNWAY INCURSIONS GET NEW SCRUTINY A recent incident at Washington Reagan National Airport that was uncovered by The Washington Post has raised new concerns about runway incursions. In the May 14 event, a twin-engine Piper Aztec aircraft was forced to initiate heavy braking to avoid hitting a US Airways Boeing 737 that had begun its takeoff roll. The Post quoted the pilot, Ronald W. Zborowski of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, as stating that an air traffic controller caught the error and tried to tell Zborowski to go around, but used the wrong call sign. Congress has begun hearings on runway incursions that include testimony by AOPA President Phil Boyer. See On Capitol Hill below.

U.S. AEROBATIC TEAM DOES WELL IN WORLD COMPETITION The United States Aerobatic Team did well during competition at the World Air Games 2001 in southern Spain. Robert Armstrong won second place overall, and also won a bronze medal in the Freestyle category. David Martin captured the Freestyle gold. More than 5,000 air athletes and officials from 80 countries competed in the Olympic-style event. The team returns to Dover, Delaware, July 4.

OFFICIALS SUGGEST NEW SITE FOR FLORIDA AIRPORT What's the best way to build a new general aviation airport in the Orlando, Florida, area? Pick a site that is outside that area. Airport supporters had hoped to establish a new airport in Orange County, home to Orlando and gateway to nationally popular attractions (see June 15 ePilot). Public controversy over proposed sites has now led the West Orange County Airport Authority to consider a new site in nearby Lake County. Lake County commissioners last week approved a study of a remote 300-acre site. Still under consideration are two of the more controversial sites in Orange County.

BENDIX/KING LAUNCHES IN-FLIGHT WEATHER SERVICE The Bendix/King Datalink Weather service became operational on June 20 and will premier during EAA AirVenture 2001 in July. The service will provide free textual weather and subscription-based graphic weather to aircraft flying at 5,000 feet or higher anywhere in the United States. Equipment was developed under an FAA contract and uses VDL 2 (VHF datalink) equipment that transmits data nearly as fast as the average home computer. Honeywell, owner of the Bendix/King line, will begin taking orders in the next two months and will deliver receivers by the end of the year. The receivers will cost less than $5,000. For information call 877/712-2386 or 913/712-2613.

PILOTS LAND AT ALL OREGON AIRPORTS Two pilots have visited all 96 public-use airports in Oregon in a single trip while simultaneously raising money for two charities. On June 19 and 20, Parker Johnstone of Redmond, Oregon, and Jim Murphy of Brookline, New Hampshire, piloted a Bonanza for nearly 33 hours over a 2,822-nm journey that covered the state. The duo raised more than $10,000 for their chosen charities–the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the American Diabetes Association–from pledges made by individuals based on the number of airports visited.

SNOWBIRDS CANCEL SHOWS THROUGH JULY 21The Canadian Snowbirds flight demonstration team has cancelled shows through July 21 following an accident in which two of the aircraft collided during formation flight. Shows are expected to resume in late July. In the accident, aircraft number 5 flown by Captain Warren Wright collided with aircraft No. 1 flown by the group commander, Major Bob Painchaud. The two Canadair CT-114 Tutor jets had separated from the formation to take photographs and were rejoining when the accident occurred. For more information, visit the Web site.

AOPA CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR MEIGS AOPA is working to protect general aviation operations as new initiatives to avoid delays at Chicago O'Hare International Airport are developed by the Chicago Delay Task Force. Chicago aviation officials insist that there will be little impact on GA from the Chicago O'Hare initiative and continue to argue that the closing of Meigs Field and the corresponding shift in operations to Midway (or other area airports) should not be considered in the discussions. However, AOPA disagrees and continues to question how shifting Meigs' 46,000 operations per year to other area airports cannot affect air traffic in airspace surrounding O'Hare.

AOPA TO APPEAL RICHARDS-GEBAUR AIRPORT DECISIONAOPA is researching legal issues to decide if it will ask for a rehearing on a court decision allowing the closure of Richards-Gebaur Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. After almost a year of deliberation, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota, ruled earlier this month that the FAA had acted properly in allowing Kansas City to close Richards-Gebaur Airport and convert it into a rail-truck freight center. AOPA filed a lawsuit last May challenging the FAA's authority to release Kansas City from its federal grant assurances and surplus property deed restrictions. For more information, see AOPA Online.

AOPA AND OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA, LOCK HORNS AGAINAOPA has fired another shot at the city of Oceanside, California. In April, city officials were considering plans to close the airport and redevelop the property. AOPA vehemently objected. Now, city officials are proposing draconian restrictions on the use of the airport. "It appears the city of Oceanside is attempting to regulate aircraft operations that are within the exclusive province of the federal government," AOPA wrote in a June 22 letter to Mayor Terry Johnson. "AOPA believes very strongly that the staff proposals on airport operational issues violate existing federal laws and constitute breach of contract with the federal government. AOPA strongly opposes these proposals." City officials want an airport curfew with no landings or takeoffs permitted between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Runway lights couldn't be activated after 10 p.m., except for a "declared emergency." For more information, visit AOPA Online.

NO AD FOR DUAL-VACUUM SYSTEMS, FAA SAYSA recent highly publicized accident in Missouri involving a Cessna 335 has focused the FAA regulatory spotlight on potential deficiencies in aircraft equipped with dual vacuum systems. Late last year the FAA issued an airworthiness concern sheet (ACS) to AOPA and aircraft type clubs indicating that it was considering an AD mandating repetitive inspection and replacement of vacuum system components. In response to the ACS, AOPA and several aircraft type clubs opposed the proposed AD, pointing out that a simple preflight check at engine start-up could completely preclude the possibility of an undetected vacuum system failure. As a result of the comments received, the FAA opted out of an AD and instead issued a special airworthiness information bulletin recommending a simple preflight verification of the vacuum system's integrity. For more information, visit AOPA Online.

HOUSE MEMBERS QUESTION TECHNOLOGY APPROACHAOPA President Phil Boyer testified Tuesday at a House aviation subcommittee hearing focusing on runway incursions. Boyer told the subcommittee, "We're not against using technology, but simply using better paint for runway and taxiway lines and using better signage would go a long way towards reducing runway incursions." AOPA member Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) was particularly tough on technology advocate Ken Mead, DOT inspector general. "When it comes to incursions, the personal responsibility issue is oftentimes pushed aside," Hayes said. "It all comes back to basic training and education." Other House aviation subcommittee members were also skeptical that technology is the cure-all for runway incursions, including pilot Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), ranking member Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.), and Rep. John Baldacci (D-Maine). For more information, visit the Web.

HOUSE PASSES TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS BILLThe House of Representatives approved a fiscal year 2002 funding bill for the FAA that includes a number of recommendations made by AOPA. Overall, the legislation would provide the FAA with $13.3 billion for the FAA–$690 million (5 percent) more than the fiscal year 2001 budget that was enacted–and consistent with the funding levels required by the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the Twenty-First Century (AIR-21). A number of AOPA recommendations also were adopted, including full funding of the flight service station modernization program; a requirement that the FAA disseminate the database of airport diagrams to manufacturers at no cost; that the notam transmission system be modernized; and, despite the change in administration, that language be included prohibiting the FAA from funding user fee studies. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation in early July.

Airport Support Network

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK–TONY MARMIANIAOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Tony Marmiani coordinated the efforts of several pro-airport groups at the Lawrence Municipal Airport, Massachusetts (LWM), in support of a long-term lease of airport property for an industrial park, rather than an outright sale of the property. Marmiani started a letter-writing campaign and contacted AOPA so it could write the city council members, citing AOPA's strong support for the long-term lease option. Marmiani is also involved in the Lawrence Airport Educational Foundation that is informing the public about aviation and the airport's role in providing economic, educational, and recreational benefits to the Merrimack Valley.

Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.

Question: Would you please give me the instructions on how to notify the FAA of my change of address?

Answer: When a pilot moves or the permanent address changes, the FAA must be notified within 30 days. Otherwise, the pilot may not act as PIC (FAR 61.60). Send the FAA a letter including the pilot's name, date of birth, social security number and/or airman certificate number, new address, and signature of the airman. To receive a certificate that reflects the new address, a $2 fee must accompany the letter.

Your AOPA Sweepstakes Bonanza is in the paint shop at Murmer Aircraft Services, located on Houston Southwest Airport in Texas. It is all white at the moment, awaiting stripes and other accents. It should be completed and dried by next week. After that, the aircraft is off to Salina, Kansas, to complete the installation of a TKS ice protection system. Visit AOPA Online.

On The Road To Expo

SEE A PARADE OF PLANES PREVIEWEver see an AOPA Parade of Planes? You can get an idea of how the parade will look on November 7 as it passes down the streets of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from a video that has just been placed on AOPA Online. Click here and click on "Parade of Planes" on the left side of the screen. That will link to a video featuring AOPA President Phil Boyer. The video was made during a previous Expo as the AOPA Parade of Planes passed in the background.

ASF PINCH-HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES(Pinch-Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.) The next Pinch-Hitterï¿½ Ground School will take place July 22 in Jacksonville, Florida. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.

For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact Julie S. Walker at [email protected].

Contacting ePilotGot news ? Contact ePilot at [email protected] Due to the large volume of mail received, we regret that we are unable to individually answer all correspondence.